1
Καὶ ἐγένετο λόγος κυρίου πρὸς Ἰωνᾶν τὸν τοῦ Ἀμαθὶ λέγων·
And the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amathi, saying:
Narrative opening / settingΚαίThe characteristic prophetic-book opening formula 'and the word of the LORD came to …' (wayyᵉhî dᵉbar-YHWH). The LXX's Καὶ ἐγένετο λόγος closely mirrors the Hebrew idiom, and the καί is a Hebraism (waw-consecutive) rather than a true Greek sequential connective.
ΚαὶandHebraistic paratactic connector (waw-consecutive)
ἐγένετοcame / happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (existential / occurrence)→ constative aorist (event as a whole)γίνομαι: 'come to be, happen'; in 'the word came' it renders Hebrew הָיָה (hāyāh), a standard prophetic formula.
λόγοςwordNominativesubject of ἐγένετολόγος: 'word, utterance'; here the authoritative divine address (דְּבַר יְהוָה), the prophetic word of commission.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source/originκύριος: the LXX's standard rendering of the Tetragrammaton יְהוָה; anarthrous here in the formula, as is typical of the possessive-genitive use.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction/recipient)
ἸωνᾶνJonahAccusativeobject of πρός (recipient of the word)Ἰωνᾶς: first-declension masculine proper noun (nom. Ἰωνᾶς, gen. Ἰωνᾶ, acc. Ἰωνᾶν); rendering Hebrew יֹונָה 'dove.' NT: Matt 12:39–41; 16:4; Luke 11:29–32.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
τοῦofGenitivearticle (with patronymic implied noun)
ἈμαθὶAmathipatronymic genitive (indeclinable proper noun; son-of slot)Ἀμαθί: indeclinable transliteration of Hebrew אֲמִתַּי (ʾĂmittay); the father's name is left uninflected, a standard LXX practice for exotic names.
λέγων·saying:Pres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · λέγωattendant-circumstance participle (introduces direct discourse)→ present participle (simultaneous/modal with ἐγένετο)λέγω: 'say'; the Hebraism לֵאמֹר (lēʾmōr, 'saying') is exactly reproduced; introduces the divine speech in vv.2.
2
Ἀνάστηθι καὶ πορεύθητι εἰς Νινευὴ τὴν πόλιν τὴν μεγάλην καὶ κήρυξον ἐν αὐτῇ, ὅτι ἀνέβη ἡ κραυγὴ τῆς κακίας αὐτῶν πρός με.
Rise and go to Nineveh the great city and cry out in it, because the cry of its wickedness has come up before me.
Divine commission (direct speech)asyndetonThe commission has three imperatives: ἀνάστηθι ('rise'), πορεύθητι ('go'), κήρυξον ('cry out'); the motivation clause (ὅτι) grounds the command in the city's notorious wickedness. 'Rise' is a Hebraism of departure (קוּם, qûm), not mere physical action.
ἈνάστηθιriseAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (imperative of command)→ ingressive aorist imperative (begin the action)ἀνίστημι: 'rise, get up'; as a Hebraism (קוּם) it functions as an idiomatic call to action/departure rather than literal rising.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (Hebraistic serial imperative)
πορεύθητιgoAor Pass Impv 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (imperative of command)→ ingressive aorist imperativeπορεύομαι: 'go, travel, proceed'; the deponent form (pass. form, active sense); the destination follows.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)
ΝινευὴNinevehAccusativeobject of εἰς (destination; indeclinable proper noun)Νινευή: indeclinable LXX rendering of Hebrew נִינְוֵה (Nîněwēh), capital of the Assyrian empire; the supreme symbol of Gentile wickedness.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
πόλινcityAccusativeappositive accusativeπόλις: 'city'; with the attributive adjective μεγάλην identifies the city's significance.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (attributive position)
μεγάληνgreatAccusativeattributive adjectiveμέγας: 'great'; the repeated epithet 'the great city' (also 3:2; 4:11) reflects Nineveh's legendary size in antiquity.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
κήρυξονcry out / proclaimAor Act Impv 2 Sg · κηρύσσωmain verb (imperative of command)→ constative aorist imperativeκηρύσσω: 'herald, proclaim aloud'; the word for prophetic public announcement; LXX renders Hebrew קְרָא (qārāʾ, 'call out, proclaim').
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)
αὐτῇitDativedative object of ἐν (referring to πόλιν)
ὅτιbecause / forcausal conjunction (introducing motivation)
ἀνέβηhas gone upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb of subordinate causal clause→ constative aorist (completed ascent)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up, ascend'; the cry 'going up' to God is a Hebraism echoing Gen 18:21 (the sin of Sodom 'cried out'); sin that reaches heaven demands divine response.
ἡtheNominativearticle
κραυγὴcry / outcryNominativesubject of ἀνέβηκραυγή: 'cry, clamor, outcry'; often of distress; here of accusatory wickedness ascending to God (cf. Gen 18:20–21; 19:13).
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
κακίαςwickednessGenitivegenitive of content (the cry consists of wickedness) or epexegetic genitiveκακία: 'wickedness, evil, malice'; renders Hebrew רָעָה (rāʿāh) — the same word used for the 'disaster' the LORD later threatens and relents from (3:10).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the city's wickedness)
πρόςbefore / topreposition + accusative (direction toward divine person)
με.meAccusativeobject of πρός (the LORD speaking)
3
Καὶ ἀνέστη Ἰωνᾶς τοῦ φυγεῖν εἰς Θαρσὶς ἐκ προσώπου κυρίου· καὶ κατέβη εἰς Ἰόππην καὶ εὗρεν πλοῖον βαδίζον εἰς Θαρσίς, καὶ ἔδωκεν τὸ ναῦλον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐνέβη εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦ πλεῦσαι μετ᾽ αὐτῶν εἰς Θαρσὶς ἐκ προσώπου κυρίου.
And Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD; and he went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish, and he paid his fare and boarded it to sail with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Narrative sequence (disobedience enacted)ΚαίThe verse enacts the flight with five verbs: ἀνέστη, κατέβη, εὗρεν, ἔδωκεν, ἐνέβη — a descending sequence. The emphatic repetition of εἰς Θαρσίς (three times) and ἐκ προσώπου κυρίου (twice, bracketing the verse) underscores the deliberateness of the flight. The articular infinitive τοῦ φυγεῖν / τοῦ πλεῦσαι is a Hebraism (infinitive of purpose).
Καὶandparatactic connector (narrative sequence)
ἀνέστηroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (departure idiom)→ ingressive aoristἀνίστημι: same departure idiom as in the command (v.2); Jonah's rising echoes and inverts the divine command to rise and go.
ἸωνᾶςJonahNominativesubject
τοῦtoGenitivearticle with infinitive (genitive articular infinitive of purpose)
φυγεῖνfleeAor Act Infin · φεύγωinfinitive of purpose (τοῦ + inf.)→ constative aorist infinitiveφεύγω: 'flee, escape'; the deliberate choice to flee — not ignorance but defiance.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)
ΘαρσὶςTarshishobject of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)Θαρσίς: indeclinable LXX rendering of Hebrew תַּרְשִׁישׁ (Taršîš); identified in antiquity with the far western Mediterranean, perhaps Tartessus in Spain — the opposite direction from Nineveh.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)
προσώπουpresence / faceGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (Hebraism: מִפְּנֵי, 'from the face/presence of')πρόσωπον: 'face, presence'; the Hebraism 'from the face of the LORD' (מִלִּפְנֵי יְהוָה) means 'away from the LORD's presence/service.' The phrase recurs twice in this verse.
κυρίου·of the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive)
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (narrative sequence)
κατέβηwent downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristκαταβαίνω: 'go down, descend'; the first of a descending series — down to Joppa, down into the ship's hold (v.5), ultimately down to Sheol (2:2). The descent motif is theologically freighted.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)
ἸόππηνJoppaAccusativeobject of εἰς (destination)Ἰόππη: 'Joppa' (modern Jaffa); the Mediterranean port city, about 35 miles from Jerusalem; later the city of Peter's vision (Acts 9:36; 10:5).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εὗρενfoundAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωmain verb→ constative aoristεὑρίσκω: 'find, discover'; the providential finding of a ready ship contributes irony — the flight is almost too easy, yet the LORD controls it all.
πλοῖονshipAccusativedirect object of εὗρενπλοῖον: 'ship, boat'; the standard LXX/NT word for a sailing vessel.
βαδίζονgoingPres Act Ptcp Acc Sg Neut · βαδίζωattributive participle (modifying πλοῖον)→ present participle (ongoing readiness)βαδίζω: 'walk, go'; less common than πορεύομαι; used here of the ship's voyage.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)
Θαρσίς,Tarshishobject of εἰς (indeclinable)
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἔδωκενgave / paidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; here 'paid the fare' — τὸ ναῦλον αὐτοῦ, his passage money. Jonah uses his own resources to finance the flight.
τὸtheAccusativearticle
ναῦλονfareAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκενναῦλον: 'ship's fare, passage-money'; a nautical term (from ναῦς, 'ship').
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐνέβηboardedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐμβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristἐμβαίνω: 'board, embark'; the nautical sense of stepping into the vessel.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (into the ship)
αὐτὸitAccusativeobject of εἰς (referring to πλοῖον)
τοῦtoGenitivearticle with infinitive of purpose
πλεῦσαιsailAor Act Infin · πλέωinfinitive of purpose→ constative aorist infinitiveπλέω: 'sail, travel by sea'; the articular infinitive of purpose (τοῦ πλεῦσαι) is a Hebraism echoing the earlier τοῦ φυγεῖν.
μετ᾽withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive of accompaniment (the sailors)
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)
ΘαρσὶςTarshishobject of εἰς (indeclinable; third occurrence in verse)
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)
προσώπουpresenceGenitivegenitive of Hebraism (ἐκ προσώπου = מִלִּפְנֵי)
κυρίου.of the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship
4
Καὶ κύριος ἐξήγειρεν πνεῦμα εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ ἐγένετο κλύδων μέγας ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ, καὶ τὸ πλοῖον ἐκινδύνευεν τοῦ συντριβῆναι.
And the LORD aroused a wind upon the sea, and a great surge arose on the sea, and the ship was in danger of being shattered.
Divine counter-action (narrative reversal)ΚαίThe divine subject acts for the first time: ἐξήγειρεν ('aroused') marks the LORD's direct intervention. The sequence of three clauses — wind, storm surge, endangered ship — escalates the crisis. κλύδων ('surge, swell') is the LXX's choice over the more common σεισμός or τρικυμία, emphasizing the rolling sea rather than a sudden tempest.
Καὶandparatactic connector
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubjectκύριος: the LORD; anarthrous but definite by context — the God of Israel who commissioned Jonah.
ἐξήγειρενaroused / hurledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξεγείρωmain verb→ constative aoristἐξεγείρω: 'rouse up, stir up'; the LXX choice renders Hebrew הֵטִיל (hēṭîl, 'hurled'), which is more violent; the Greek word emphasizes the wind being 'roused' from sleep.
πνεῦμαwindAccusativedirect objectπνεῦμα: 'spirit, wind, breath'; here the natural element; πνεῦμα renders Hebrew רוּחַ (rûaḥ), which has the same double sense.
εἰςuponpreposition + accusative (direction/against)
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
θάλασσαν,seaAccusativeobject of εἰς (destination/recipient of force)θάλασσα: 'sea'; the Mediterranean.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐγένετοarose / there wasAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (existential)→ ingressive aorist (the storm coming into existence)
κλύδωνsurge / storm-surgeNominativesubject of ἐγένετοκλύδων: 'surge, rough wave, turbulence'; a notable LXX word choice (rather than χειμών or σεισμός); renders Hebrew סַעַר (saʿar, 'tempest, storm'). Jas 1:6 uses κλυδωνίζομαι for wave-tossing.
μέγαςgreatNominativepredicate adjectiveμέγας: 'great'; like the 'great city' of v.2, the 'great fish' (2:1), and the 'great wind' here — the recurrence of μέγας underscores the God who deals in cosmic scale.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (location)
τῇtheDativearticle
θαλάσσῃ,seaDativedative of location
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὸtheNominativearticle
πλοῖονshipNominativesubject
ἐκινδύνευενwas in dangerImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · κινδυνεύωmain verb→ progressive imperfect (ongoing peril)κινδυνεύω: 'to be in danger, be at risk'; the imperfect emphasizes continuing jeopardy; same verb in Acts 19:27, 40.
τοῦofGenitivearticle with infinitive (genitive articular infinitive of content after κινδυνεύω)
συντριβῆναι.being shatteredAor Pass Infin · συντρίβωinfinitive (content of danger)→ constative aorist infinitiveσυντρίβω: 'shatter, break in pieces'; a strong verb for violent destruction.
5
Καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν οἱ ναῦται καὶ ἀνεβόων ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸν θεὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐκβολὴν ἐποιήσαντο τῶν σκευῶν τῶν ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν τοῦ κουφισθῆναι ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν· Ἰωνᾶς δὲ κατέβη εἰς τὴν κοίλην τοῦ πλοίου καὶ ἐκάθευδεν καὶ ἔρρεγχεν.
And the sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own god, and they threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it from them. But Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship and was lying down and was snoring.
Simultaneous contrast (sailors act; Jonah sleeps)Καί / δέThe verse divides sharply with δέ: frantic sailors above (each praying to his own god, jettisoning cargo) vs. sleeping Jonah below. The verb ἔρρεγχεν ('snored') is vivid and unusual — the prophet is not merely asleep but in deep, oblivious slumber. The articular infinitive τοῦ κουφισθῆναι is again a Hebraism.
Καὶandparatactic connector
ἐφοβήθησανwere afraidAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb→ ingressive aorist (fear seized them)φοβέομαι: 'fear, be afraid'; the sailors' escalating fear is tracked through the chapter — here ordinary maritime terror; in v.10 specifically directed at the LORD.
οἱtheNominativearticle
ναῦταιsailorsNominativesubjectναύτης: 'sailor, mariner'; from ναῦς 'ship'; these are pagan professionals whose practical piety (praying, lightening the ship) contrasts with Jonah's dereliction.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἀνεβόωνwere crying outImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβοάωmain verb→ progressive imperfect (continuous urgent crying)ἀναβοάω: 'cry out loudly, call aloud'; the ἀνα- prefix intensifies the cry upward; imperfect of sustained distress.
ἕκαστοςeachNominativedistributive subject (each of the sailors praying individually)ἕκαστος: 'each one'; the distribution implies a polytheistic crew, each invoking his own patron deity.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of prayer)
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
θεὸνgodAccusativeobject of πρόςθεός: 'god'; articular but referring to each sailor's own deity (thus 'his god'), not the God of Israel.
αὐτοῦ,his ownGenitivegenitive of possession (his own god)
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐκβολὴνjettisoningAccusativedirect object of ἐποιήσαντο (cognate-object idiom)ἐκβολή: 'throwing overboard'; a nautical term (from ἐκβάλλω); the ἐκβολὴν ποιεῖσθαι idiom ('to make a jettison') renders Hebrew יָטִיל (hēṭîl, 'threw').
ἐποιήσαντοmade / didAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (middle: acting for themselves)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do, make'; in the idiom ἐκβολὴν ποιεῖσθαι ('make a jettison') the middle voice emphasizes the sailors' own self-interested action.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle
σκευῶνgear / cargoGenitivepartitive genitive (the cargo thrown overboard)σκεῦος: 'vessel, implement, equipment'; plural = cargo, ship's gear.
τῶνthat wereGenitivearticle (restrictive with following prepositional phrase)
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)
τῷtheDativearticle
πλοίῳshipDativedative of location
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction of throw)
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
θάλασσανseaAccusativeobject of εἰς
τοῦtoGenitivearticle with infinitive (purpose)
κουφισθῆναιbe lightenedAor Pass Infin · κουφίζωinfinitive of purpose→ constative aorist infinitiveκουφίζω: 'lighten, make lighter'; nautical term for reducing a ship's load in an emergency.
ἀπ᾽frompreposition + genitive (separation)
αὐτῶν·themGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (the cargo removed from them)
ἸωνᾶςJonahNominativesubject (contrastive with sailors)
δὲbutadversative/contrastive particleδέ: marks the sharp contrast: sailors active above, Jonah passive below.
κατέβηhad gone downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb (pluperfect in sense: prior action)→ constative aorist (state achieved prior to sailors' activity)καταβαίνω: the descent motif continues — down into Joppa (v.3), now down into the ship's hold.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction into the hold)
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
κοίληνholdAccusativeobject of εἰς (the hollow/hold of the ship)κοίλη: 'hollow part, hold'; feminine substantive adjective (sc. κοιλία), the ship's hull cavity; the lowest and most sheltered space.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (genitive with κοίλην)
πλοίουshipGenitivegenitive of belonging
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐκάθευδενwas lying down / was asleepImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · καθεύδωmain verb→ progressive imperfect (continuous sleep)καθεύδω: 'sleep, lie asleep'; the imperfect conveys the ongoing, oblivious state.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἔρρεγχεν.was snoringImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ῥέγχωmain verb→ progressive imperfect (continuous action)ῥέγχω: 'snore'; a vivid, colloquial word rare in literary Greek; its use here (not in MT, which simply says 'was asleep') may be the LXX's dramatic expansion. The snoring prophet amid the storm is one of the OT's great ironic images.
6
Καὶ προσῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ πρωρεὺς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Τί σὺ ῥέγχεις; ἀνάστα καὶ ἐπικαλοῦ τὸν θεόν σου, ὅπως διασώσῃ ὁ θεὸς ἡμᾶς καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀπολώμεθα.
And the captain came to him and said to him: 'Why are you snoring? Rise and call on your god, so that God may save us and we may not perish.'
Narrative sequence (rebuke / ironic appeal)ΚαίThe pagan captain (πρωρεύς, 'ship's master') delivers the chapter's first great irony: he urges Jonah — the prophet of the LORD — to pray. His hope is expressed with ὅπως + subjunctive, a purpose/result clause. The οὐ μή + subjunctive (ἀπολώμεθα) is an emphatic negation of future possibility.
Καὶandparatactic connector
προσῆλθενcame toAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristπροσέρχομαι: 'come to, approach'; purposeful approach to the sleeping Jonah.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward person)
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeobject of πρός (Jonah)
ὁtheNominativearticle
πρωρεὺςcaptain / ship's masterNominativesubjectπρωρεύς: 'ship's officer, captain, prow-man'; from πρῷρα 'prow/bow'; renders Hebrew רַב הַחֹבֵל (rab ha-ḥōbēl, 'the chief helmsman/captain'). A pagan mariner urges prayer on a prophet of the LORD.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aorist
αὐτῷ·to himDativedative of indirect object
Τίwhyinterrogative adverb (reason)
σὺyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun
ῥέγχεις;are snoringPres Act Indic 2 Sg · ῥέγχωmain verb (rhetorical question)→ progressive present (ongoing action)ῥέγχω: echoes the same rare word from v.5; the captain's question picks up the narrator's observation.
ἀνάσταriseAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (imperative of urgent command)→ ingressive aorist imperativeἀνίστημι: echoes the divine command to Jonah in v.2 (ἀνάστηθι) — the pagan captain now gives Jonah the very command the LORD gave.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (serial imperative)
ἐπικαλοῦcall uponPres Mid Impv 2 Sg · ἐπικαλέωmain verb (imperative of command)→ present imperative (ongoing calling)ἐπικαλέω: 'call upon, invoke'; the middle 'call upon for oneself' — the standard word for invoking a deity. NT: Rom 10:13 (Joel 2:32 LXX).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
θεόνgodAccusativedirect object of ἐπικαλοῦ
σου,yourGenitivegenitive of possession (Jonah's particular God)
ὅπωςso thatpurpose/result conjunction (+ subjunctive)
διασώσῃmay saveAor Act Subj 3 Sg · διασῴζωmain verb of purpose clause→ constative aorist subjunctiveδιασῴζω: 'save thoroughly, bring safely through'; the prefixed δια- intensifies the saving — complete rescue from the storm.
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubject of purpose clause (Jonah's θεός = the LORD)
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of διασώσῃ
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
οὐnotnegation (with μή forming emphatic double negation)
μὴnotnegation (double negation οὐ μή + subj. = emphatic future negation)
ἀπολώμεθα.perishAor Mid Subj 1 Pl · ἀπόλλυμιverb of negative purpose clause (οὐ μή + subj.)→ constative aorist subjunctiveἀπόλλυμι: 'destroy, perish'; mid. = 'be destroyed, perish'; the emphatic οὐ μή + subjunctive expresses strong negation of a feared outcome.
7
Καὶ εἶπεν ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ· Δεῦτε βάλωμεν κλήρους καὶ γνῶμεν τίνος ἕνεκεν ἡ κακία αὕτη ἐστὶν ἐν ἡμῖν. καὶ ἔβαλον κλήρους, καὶ ἔπεσεν ὁ κλῆρος ἐπὶ Ἰωνᾶν.
And each said to his neighbor: 'Come, let us cast lots and find out on whose account this evil is upon us.' And they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
Narrative sequence (lot-casting; divine disclosure)ΚαίThe sailors use the common ancient practice of lot-casting (κλῆρος) to identify the guilty party. The deliberative subjunctive βάλωμεν / γνῶμεν signals communal decision. The lot 'falling' on Jonah (ἔπεσεν ὁ κλῆρος ἐπί) is the standard idiom; the implied agent is divine providence.
Καὶandparatactic connector
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb→ constative aorist
ἕκαστοςeachNominativedistributive subjectἕκαστος: 'each one'; the polytheistic crew again acting individually, now collectively reaching consensus.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
πλησίονneighborAccusativeobject of πρός (neighbor, fellow sailor)πλησίον: 'neighbor, one nearby'; here fellow crew member.
αὐτοῦ·hisGenitivegenitive of possession
Δεῦτεcomehortatory particle (call to common action)δεῦτε: 'come!' (plural); an interjection calling the group to action; Hebraism (לְכוּ, lᵉkû).
βάλωμενlet us castAor Act Subj 1 Pl · βάλλωhortatory subjunctive (deliberative)→ constative aorist subjunctiveβάλλω: 'throw, cast'; in the idiom κλήρους βάλλω = 'cast lots.'
κλήρουςlotsAccusativedirect object of βάλωμενκλῆρος: 'lot' (object used in divination); later also 'inheritance, allotment'; the LXX standard for the Hebrew גּוֹרָל (gôrāl). The lot is understood as revealing divine will (Prov 16:33).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
γνῶμενlet us know / find outAor Act Subj 1 Pl · γινώσκωhortatory subjunctive (co-ordinate purpose)→ constative aorist subjunctiveγινώσκω: 'know, find out, discern'; the lot will provide knowledge of the guilty party.
τίνοςwhose / on account of whomGenitiveinterrogative genitive (indirect question: whose account?)
ἕνεκενbecause of / on account ofpostpositive preposition + genitive (cause)ἕνεκεν / ἕνεκα: 'because of, on account of'; here with the genitive pronoun τίνος forming a causal interrogative.
ἡtheNominativearticle
κακίαevil / disasterNominativesubject of ἐστίνκακία: same word as v.2 (the city's 'wickedness'); now referring to the storm-disaster — both senses of the Hebrew רָעָה at play.
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative adjective (attributive to κακία)
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopulative verb→ gnomic/stative present
ἐνupon / amongpreposition + dative (location/source)
ἡμῖν.usDativedative of location (the evil upon/among us)
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (narrative sequence)
ἔβαλονthey castAor Act Indic 3 Pl · βάλλωmain verb→ constative aorist
κλήρους,lotsAccusativedirect object
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἔπεσενfellAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πίπτωmain verb→ constative aoristπίπτω: 'fall'; in the idiom 'the lot fell on' — the standard idiom for the result of lot-casting, implying divine direction (cf. Prov 16:33; Acts 1:26).
ὁtheNominativearticle
κλῆροςlotNominativesubject of ἔπεσεν
ἐπὶon / uponpreposition + accusative (direction of the lot's falling)
Ἰωνᾶν.JonahAccusativeobject of ἐπί (the lot identifies Jonah)
8
Καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ· Ἀπάγγειλον ἡμῖν τίνος ἕνεκεν ἡ κακία αὕτη ἐστὶν ἐν ἡμῖν· τίς σου ἡ ἐργασία, καὶ πόθεν ἔρχῃ, καὶ ἐκ ποίας χώρας, καὶ ἐκ ποίου λαοῦ εἶ σύ;
And they said to him: 'Tell us on whose account this evil is upon us. What is your occupation, and from where do you come, and from what country, and from what people are you?'
Narrative sequence (interrogation of Jonah)ΚαίA four-part interrogation: the sailors press Jonah for the information the lot has pointed to but not supplied. The questions — occupation, origin, country, people — are standard ancient identity-markers. The cluster of questions echoes the cultural practice of establishing a stranger's credentials before trusting or condemning him.
Καὶandparatactic connector
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb→ constative aorist
αὐτῷ·to himDativedative of indirect object
Ἀπάγγειλονtell / reportAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (imperative of command)→ constative aorist imperativeἀπαγγέλλω: 'report, announce, tell'; used of formal declarations and reports; the sailors demand a clear accounting.
ἡμῖνusDativedative of indirect object
τίνοςwhoseGenitiveinterrogative genitive (indirect question: on whose account?)
ἕνεκενon account ofpostpositive preposition + genitive
ἡtheNominativearticle
κακίαevil / disasterNominativesubject of ἐστίνκακία: third occurrence; the lexical thread ties the city's wickedness (v.2), the sailors' disaster (v.7), and now the quest for its cause (v.8).
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative adjective
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopulative verb→ stative present
ἐνuponpreposition + dative
ἡμῖν·usDativedative of location
τίςwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject)
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession
ἡtheNominativearticle
ἐργασία,occupation / workNominativepredicate nominative (answer to τίς)ἐργασία: 'occupation, trade, activity'; what is Jonah's profession? The irony: he is a prophet, a man of divine speech — yet silent.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πόθενfrom whereinterrogative adverb of place
ἔρχῃ,do you comePres Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (second question)→ progressive present
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (origin)
ποίαςwhatGenitiveinterrogative adjective (modifying χώρας)
χώρας,countryGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (third question: what country?)χώρα: 'country, land, region'; ethnic/geographical identity.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (origin)
ποίουwhatGenitiveinterrogative adjective (modifying λαοῦ)
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (fourth question: what nation?)λαός: 'people, nation'; often in LXX of Israel as God's people; here the sailors ask about ethnic identity.
εἶarePres Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίcopulative verb (fourth question)→ stative present
σύ;youNominativeemphatic subject pronoun
9
Καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· Δοῦλος κυρίου ἐγώ εἰμι, καὶ τὸν κύριον τὸν θεὸν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἐγὼ σέβομαι, ὃς ἐποίησεν τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ τὴν ξηράν.
And he said to them: 'I am a servant of the LORD, and I worship the LORD the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.'
Narrative sequence (Jonah's confession)ΚαίThe most famous LXX/MT divergence in this chapter: where the MT has עִבְרִי אָנֹכִי ('I am a Hebrew'), the LXX reads δοῦλος κυρίου ἐγώ εἰμι ('I am a servant of the LORD'). This is a major text-critical crux. Jonah's confession moves from identity (δοῦλος κυρίου) to worship (σέβομαι) to creation theology (ὃς ἐποίησεν): the God he is fleeing is the Lord of both sea and land — the very sea now threatening the ship.
Καὶandparatactic connector
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb→ constative aorist
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)
αὐτούς·themAccusativeobject of πρός (the sailors)
Δοῦλοςservant / slaveNominativepredicate nominative (LXX self-identification)δοῦλος: 'slave, servant'; in the LXX especially 'servant of the LORD' (עֶבֶד יְהוָה) is a title of honor for prophets and leaders. The MT has עִבְרִי ('Hebrew') — a famous divergence. Whether the LXX reflects a different Vorlage or theological interpretive choice is debated; the LXX may have read the consonants differently or interpreted the title theologically.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship / belongingκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; δοῦλος κυρίου is the honorific title of the prophets (Amos 3:7; Jer 7:25 LXX).
ἐγώINominativeemphatic subject pronoun
εἰμι,amPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopulative verb→ stative present
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
κύριονLORDAccusativedirect object of σέβομαι
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (continuing apposition)
θεὸνGodAccusativeappositive accusative
τοῦofGenitivearticle
οὐρανοῦheavenGenitivegenitive of relationship (God of heaven)οὐρανός: 'heaven'; 'God of heaven' (אֱלֹהֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם) is the standard international formula for the God of Israel in exilic and post-exilic texts (Ezra 1:2; Neh 1:4–5; Dan 2:18–19).
ἐγὼINominativeemphatic subject pronoun
σέβομαι,worship / reverePres Mid Indic 1 Sg · σέβομαιmain verb→ progressive present (habitual devotion)σέβομαι: 'worship, revere, be devout'; a solemn cultic term, used of Jews worshipping the God of Israel in the diaspora context (Acts 13:43, 50; 17:4, 17).
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐποίησεν)
ἐποίησενmade / createdAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of relative clause (creation affirmation)→ constative aorist (creation as completed act)ποιέω: 'make, create'; the creation formula echoes Gen 1 LXX; Jonah's confession grounds the storm in the sovereignty of the very God he is fleeing — the Lord of the sea he is sailing.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
θάλασσανseaAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησενθάλασσα: the sea that is now threatening them; Jonah's God created the very element tormenting the sailors.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
ξηράν.dry landAccusativedirect object (second; the merism sea + land = all creation)ξηρά: 'dry land'; the merism θάλασσα καὶ ξηρά ('sea and dry land') asserts the LORD's universal sovereignty — no geography lies outside his domain.
10
Καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν οἱ ἄνδρες φόβον μέγαν καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτόν· Τί τοῦτο ἐποίησας; διότι ἔγνωσαν οἱ ἄνδρες ὅτι ἐκ προσώπου κυρίου ἦν φεύγων, ὅτι ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς.
And the men feared with a great fear and said to him: 'What is this you have done?' For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
Narrative sequence (escalated fear; accusatory question)ΚαίThe cognate accusative φόβον μέγαν ('feared a great fear') is a Hebraism intensifying the emotion. The double ὅτι explains first the question's basis ('because they knew') and then how they knew ('because he had told them') — a narrative clarification. Their fear has now shifted from maritime terror to theological awe.
Καὶandparatactic connector
ἐφοβήθησανfearedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb→ ingressive aorist (new level of fear seized them)φοβέομαι: second occurrence of fear in this chapter (cf. v.5); now theological fear — the fear of the LORD's power.
οἱtheNominativearticle
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubjectἀνήρ: 'man'; the sailors are now called 'the men' (οἱ ἄνδρες) rather than 'the sailors' (οἱ ναῦται), perhaps a shift toward viewing them as moral agents.
φόβονfearAccusativecognate accusative (Hebraism: פַּחַד גָּדוֹל)φόβος: 'fear'; the cognate-accusative construction (verb + cognate noun of the same root) is a standard Hebraism intensifying the action.
μέγανgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying φόβον)μέγας: 'great'; the third major 'great' in this chapter (great city v.2, great surge v.4, great fear v.10).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb→ constative aorist
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)
αὐτόν·himAccusativeobject of πρός (Jonah)
ΤίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ἐποίησας)
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object, intensifying Τί)
ἐποίησας;have you doneAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (accusatory rhetorical question)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; the question Τί τοῦτο ἐποίησας; echoes the accusatory formula of Gen 3:13 (Eve) and Gen 4:10 (Cain) — a heightened moral indictment.
διότιfor / becausecausal conjunction (explanatory)διότι: 'because, for'; introduces the narrator's explanation.
ἔγνωσανknewAor Act Indic 3 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb of causal clause→ constative aorist
οἱtheNominativearticle
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject
ὅτιthatconjunction (indirect statement after ἔγνωσαν)
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation/source)
προσώπουpresenceGenitiveHebraism (ἐκ προσώπου = מִלִּפְנֵי)
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίauxiliary with periphrastic participle φεύγων→ progressive imperfect (ongoing action in past)
φεύγων,fleeingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · φεύγωperiphrastic participle (with ἦν: past progressive)→ present participle (ongoing flight)φεύγω: the flight of v.3 now named explicitly to the sailors; the ἦν φεύγων periphrasis emphasizes the ongoing, deliberate nature of the flight.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (explaining how they knew)
ἀπήγγειλενhad toldAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb of second causal clause→ constative aorist (prior narration)ἀπαγγέλλω: 'report, declare'; Jonah's own declaration (v.9) is what informed the sailors. The narrator clarifies what v.9 implied.
αὐτοῖς.to themDativedative of indirect object
11
Καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτόν· Τί σοι ποιήσωμεν, καὶ κοπάσει ἡ θάλασσα ἀφ᾽ ἡμῶν; ὅτι ἡ θάλασσα ἐπορεύετο καὶ ἐξήγειρεν μᾶλλον κύματα.
And they said to him: 'What shall we do to you, so that the sea may calm for us?' For the sea was going and rising in its waves even more.
Narrative sequence (sailors' dilemma)ΚαίThe sailors ask Jonah what must be done with him. κοπάσει (from κοπάζω, 'abate') is used again at v.12; the verb is characteristic of the LXX Jonah storm vocabulary. The narrator interjects an ὅτι clause noting the worsening storm. ἡ θάλασσα ἐπορεύετο ('the sea was going') personalizes the sea as hostile agent.
Καὶandparatactic connector
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb→ constative aorist
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative
αὐτόν·himAccusativeobject of πρός (Jonah)
ΤίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ποιήσωμεν)
σοιto youDativedative of disadvantage (what shall we do to/with you?)
ποιήσωμεν,shall we doAor Act Subj 1 Pl · ποιέωdeliberative subjunctive (first-person)→ constative aorist subjunctiveποιέω: the sailors' question is genuine moral hesitation — they are not yet ready to throw Jonah overboard.
καὶand / so thatconsecutive/purpose conjunction (Hebraism: waw-consecutive)
κοπάσειwill abateFut Act Indic 3 Sg · κοπάζωmain verb (apodosis of implicit condition)→ predictive futureκοπάζω: 'abate, cease, die down'; specifically of storms stopping; same verb at v.12 (Jonah's prediction) and Matt 14:32 (the wind ceases after Jesus walks on water). NT echo: the stilling of the storm.
ἡtheNominativearticle
θάλασσαseaNominativesubject of κοπάσει
ἀφ᾽frompreposition + genitive (separation)
ἡμῶν;usGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (narrator's explanation)
ἡtheNominativearticle
θάλασσαseaNominativesubject (the sea personified)
ἐπορεύετοwas going / heavingImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb→ progressive imperfectπορεύομαι: used of the sea in motion — vivid personification.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐξήγειρενwas raising upImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξεγείρωmain verb→ progressive imperfect (escalating storm)ἐξεγείρω: same verb as v.4; the sea now raising its own waves.
μᾶλλονmoreadverb of degree
κύματα.wavesAccusativedirect object of ἐξήγειρενκῦμα: 'wave, billow'; the sea stirring its own waves.
12
Καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· Ἄρατέ με καὶ ἐκρίψατέ με εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ κοπάσει ἡ θάλασσα ἀφ᾽ ὑμῶν· διότι ἔγνωκα ἐγὼ ὅτι ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ ὁ κλύδων ὁ μέγας οὗτος ἐφ᾽ ὑμᾶς ἐστιν.
And he said to them: 'Take me and throw me into the sea, and the sea will abate for you; for I know that on account of me this great storm is upon you.'
Narrative sequence (Jonah's self-condemning instruction)ΚαίJonah's instruction to throw him overboard is extraordinary: the prophet accepts responsibility and instructs his own death-sentence. The perfect ἔγνωκα ('I know with settled awareness') indicates full self-knowledge of guilt. κλύδων μέγας echoes v.4. NT echo: Jesus' willingness to be 'thrown into' death to save others (Matt 12:40).
Καὶandparatactic connector
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb→ constative aorist
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative
αὐτούς·themAccusativeobject of πρός
Ἄρατέtake / liftAor Act Impv 2 Pl · αἴρωmain verb (imperative)→ constative aorist imperativeαἴρω: 'lift, take up'; Jonah commands his own removal — a self-sacrifice.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of Ἄρατε
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (serial imperative)
ἐκρίψατέthrowAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἐκρίπτωmain verb (imperative)→ constative aorist imperativeἐκρίπτω: 'throw out, cast overboard'; the same verb family as the cargo-jettisoning of v.5; now Jonah is the cargo.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of ἐκρίψατε
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
θάλασσαν,seaAccusativeobject of εἰς
καὶandconsecutive conjunction (result)
κοπάσειwill abateFut Act Indic 3 Sg · κοπάζωmain verb (prediction)→ predictive futureκοπάζω: Jonah's prediction; fulfilled at v.15.
ἡtheNominativearticle
θάλασσαseaNominativesubject of κοπάσει
ἀφ᾽frompreposition + genitive
ὑμῶν·youGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό
διότιfor / becausecausal conjunction
ἔγνωκαI knowPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb→ intensive perfect (settled knowledge)γινώσκω: the perfect ἔγνωκα = 'I have come to know and now know' — settled awareness of his own guilt as cause.
ἐγὼINominativeemphatic subject pronoun
ὅτιthatconjunction (indirect statement after ἔγνωκα)
ἕνεκενon account ofpostpositive preposition + genitive (cause)
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of ἕνεκεν (emphatic form)
ὁtheNominativearticle
κλύδωνsurge / stormNominativesubjectκλύδων: echoes v.4; the 'great surge' sent by the LORD is now identified by Jonah as being on account of him.
ὁtheNominativearticle
μέγαςgreatNominativeattributive adjective
οὗτοςthisNominativedemonstrative adjective (pointing to the present storm)
ἐφ᾽uponpreposition + accusative (against you)
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject of ἐπί
ἐστιν.isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopulative verb→ stative present
13
Καὶ παρεβιάζοντο οἱ ἄνδρες τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι πρὸς τὴν γῆν καὶ οὐκ ἠδύναντο, ὅτι ἡ θάλασσα ἐπορεύετο καὶ ἐξήγειρεν μᾶλλον ἐπ᾽ αὐτούς.
And the men strained to return to land but were not able, because the sea was going and rising even more against them.
Narrative sequence (failed rescue attempt)ΚαίThe sailors' reluctance to throw Jonah overboard is signaled by their attempt to row to land. παρεβιάζοντο is a conative imperfect — 'they kept trying but could not.' The narrator repeats v.11's storm language (ἐπορεύετο καὶ ἐξήγειρεν μᾶλλον) with the added ἐπ᾽ αὐτούς — the storm now explicitly directed at them personally. Their moral hesitation is commendable.
Καὶandparatactic connector
παρεβιάζοντοwere strainingImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · παραβιάζομαιmain verb→ conative imperfect (attempted but unsuccessful action)παραβιάζομαι: 'force, constrain, strive hard'; the conative imperfect signals prolonged effort without success; renders MT יַחְתְּרוּ ('they rowed/dug hard').
οἱtheNominativearticle
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject
τοῦtoGenitivearticle with infinitive (genitive articular infinitive of attempted purpose)
ἐπιστρέψαιreturnAor Act Infin · ἐπιστρέφωinfinitive of attempted purpose→ constative aorist infinitiveἐπιστρέφω: 'return, turn back'; also the LXX word for spiritual repentance (שׁוּב, šûb); here literal, though the narrative is saturated with the theme of turning.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
γῆνlandAccusativeobject of πρός (destination: shore)γῆ: land contrasted with the menacing sea.
καὶbutadversative coordinator
οὐκnotnegation
ἠδύναντο,were ableImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · δύναμαιmain verb (denied ability)→ progressive imperfect (ongoing inability)δύναμαι: 'be able'; the imperfect — 'they kept on but could not.'
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction
ἡtheNominativearticle
θάλασσαseaNominativesubject
ἐπορεύετοwas goingImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb→ progressive imperfectπορεύομαι: repetition of v.11's language creates menacing verbal echo.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐξήγειρενwas raising upImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξεγείρωmain verb→ progressive imperfectἐξεγείρω: third occurrence (vv.4, 11, 13); storm escalating.
μᾶλλονmoreadverb of degree
ἐπ᾽againstpreposition + accusative (direction of storm's force against them)
αὐτούς.themAccusativeobject of ἐπί
14
Καὶ ἀνεβόησαν πρὸς κύριον καὶ εἶπαν· Μηδαμῶς, κύριε, μὴ ἀπολώμεθα ἕνεκεν τῆς ψυχῆς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τούτου καὶ μὴ δῷς ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς αἷμα δίκαιον· ὅτι σύ, κύριε, ὃν τρόπον ἐβούλου ἐποίησας.
And they cried to the LORD and said: 'Not at all, O LORD — let us not perish on account of this man's life, and do not lay innocent blood upon us; for you, O LORD, have done as you have willed.'
Narrative sequence (sailors' prayer before acting)ΚαίThe sailors' prayer is theologically remarkable: they call on the LORD by name (κύριε), acknowledge his sovereignty ('you have done as you willed'), and ask forgiveness for the unavoidable shedding of blood. The phrase αἷμα δίκαιον ('innocent blood') echoes the language of innocent-blood guilt in Deut 27:25; Jer 7:6 LXX. Their prayer implies conversion — pagan sailors now addressing Israel's God directly. ὃν τρόπον ἐβούλου ἐποίησας = 'you have done as you willed' — a confession of divine sovereignty.
Καὶandparatactic connector
ἀνεβόησανcried outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβοάωmain verb→ constative aoristἀναβοάω: 'cry out, shout aloud'; earlier (v.5) they cried each to his own god; now they cry together to the LORD — the narrative marks their transition.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of prayer)
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeobject of πρός (the sailors now praying to Israel's God)κύριος: the sailors now address Israel's God by his covenant title, not 'their own gods' (v.5); a dramatic theological shift.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἶπαν·saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (introducing prayer)→ constative aorist
Μηδαμῶς,not at all / by no meansemphatic negation / particle of strong denialμηδαμῶς: 'by no means, not at all'; a strong emphatic negation; the same particle used by Peter refusing the unclean animals in Acts 10:14; 11:8.
κύριε,LORD / O LORDVocativevocative (address in prayer)κύριος: vocative of direct address in prayer — the sailors invoking the God of Israel whose name Jonah declared.
μὴnotnegation (with subjunctive)
ἀπολώμεθαmay we perishAor Mid Subj 1 Pl · ἀπόλλυμιnegative wish/prayer (μή + subjunctive)→ constative aorist subjunctiveἀπόλλυμι: 'perish, be destroyed'; they ask not to be punished for Jonah's death.
ἕνεκενon account ofpostpositive preposition + genitive
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
ψυχῆςlife / soulGenitivegenitive object of ἕνεκενψυχή: 'soul, life'; here 'on account of this man's life' — they recognize Jonah as the cause but do not want his death on their hands.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
ἀνθρώπουmanGenitivegenitive of relationship (man's soul)ἄνθρωπος: 'man, human being'; the sailors refer to Jonah with some distance — 'this man.'
τούτουthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (pointing to Jonah)
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
μὴnotnegation (with subjunctive)
δῷςlay / giveAor Act Subj 2 Sg · δίδωμιnegative prayer (μή + subjunctive, address to LORD)→ constative aorist subjunctiveδίδωμι: 'give, place upon'; the idiom 'give innocent blood upon us' = lay blood-guilt on us (cf. Deut 21:8–9).
ἐφ᾽uponpreposition + accusative (against/upon us)
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeobject of ἐπί
αἷμαbloodAccusativedirect object of δῷςαἷμα: 'blood'; in the idiom αἷμα δίκαιον ('innocent blood') — the Deuteronomic concept of bloodguilt for unjust killing (Deut 27:25; 2 Kgs 21:16).
δίκαιον·innocent / righteousAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying αἷμα)δίκαιος: 'righteous, innocent'; αἷμα δίκαιον = 'innocent blood' — the guilt of killing one who does not deserve death (ironically, Jonah's death is both deserved and innocent).
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (ground for the prayer)
σύ,youNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (addressing the LORD)
κύριε,O LORDVocativevocative (repeated address)
ὃνasAccusativerelative pronoun in modal idiom (ὃν τρόπον = 'in which manner/as')
τρόπονmanner / wayAccusativecognate-accusative in modal idiomτρόπος: 'manner, way'; the idiom ὃν τρόπον = 'as, in whatever manner'; a Hebraism for כַּאֲשֶׁר ('just as, however').
ἐβούλουyou willedImpf Mid Indic 2 Sg · βούλομαιmain verb of relative clause→ progressive/customary imperfect (divine will as ongoing disposition)βούλομαι: 'will, intend, choose'; the imperfect ἐβούλου = 'as you were pleased to will' — acknowledging that the LORD's will determined events.
ἐποίησας.you have doneAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (confessional assertion)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do, make'; the confession 'you have done as you willed' is a doxological acknowledgment of divine sovereignty over events; a remarkable confession from pagan sailors.
15
Καὶ ἔλαβον τὸν Ἰωνᾶν καὶ ἐξέβαλον αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ ἔστη ἡ θάλασσα ἐκ τοῦ σάλου αὐτῆς.
And they took Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging.
Narrative sequence (climax: Jonah overboard; sea stills)ΚαίThe climax of the chapter's storm narrative: three verbs — ἔλαβον, ἐξέβαλον, ἔστη — drive to the miracle. ἔστη ἡ θάλασσα ('the sea stood still') uses ἵστημι to describe the sea's sudden arrest, a powerful image. Jonah's prediction (v.12) is precisely fulfilled. σάλος ('raging, tossing') is the sea's violent motion now ended.
Καὶandparatactic connector
ἔλαβονtookAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take, take hold of'; the sailors finally act on Jonah's own instruction.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
ἸωνᾶνJonahAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβον
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐξέβαλονthrewAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐκβάλλωmain verb→ constative aoristἐκβάλλω: 'throw out, cast out'; the compound ἐκ- emphasizes 'out of' the ship; the same verb-root as the cargo-jettison (ἐκβολή, v.5). Jonah joins the cargo thrown overboard.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐξέβαλον
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
θάλασσαν,seaAccusativeobject of εἰς
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (immediate consequence)
ἔστηceased / stood stillAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (miraculous result)→ ingressive aorist (the sea coming to a stop)ἵστημι: 'stand, stop'; ἔστη = 'it stood still / it stopped'; the miracle of instantaneous calm fulfills Jonah's word. NT echo: Jesus rebuking the sea (Mark 4:39 — ἐκόπασεν, but same concept).
ἡtheNominativearticle
θάλασσαseaNominativesubject of ἔστη
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation from its raging)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
σάλουraging / tossingGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (separation from the turbulence)σάλος: 'tossing, surging, turbulence'; a nautical term for violent wave-motion; renders Hebrew זַעַף (zaʿap, 'rage, fury'). The sea ceases from (ἐκ) its own raging — personification consistent with the whole chapter.
αὐτῆς.itsGenitivegenitive of possession (the sea's own raging)
16
Καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν οἱ ἄνδρες φόβῳ μεγάλῳ τὸν κύριον καὶ ἔθυσαν θυσίαν τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ εὔξαντο εὐχάς.
And the men feared the LORD with a great fear, and they sacrificed a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.
Narrative conclusion (sailors' conversion and worship)ΚαίThe chapter closes with a triple act of worship from the pagan sailors: fear, sacrifice, and vows. The cognate dative φόβῳ μεγάλῳ (Hebraism: with a great fear) echoes and intensifies the cognate accusative of v.10. The shift from v.10's φόβον μέγαν (storm-terror) to v.16's φόβῳ μεγάλῳ τὸν κύριον (fear directed at the LORD) marks the sailors' conversion: they now fear God in the positive, reverent sense. θυσία and εὐχαί (sacrifice and vows) are the standard acts of Israelite devotion — now performed by Gentile sailors. This scene is the narrative counterpart of Nineveh's repentance in ch.3.
Καὶandparatactic connector
ἐφοβήθησανfearedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb→ ingressive aorist (holy fear overcame them)φοβέομαι: third and climactic occurrence of 'fear' in the chapter (vv.5, 10, 16); now the reverential fear of the LORD, not merely maritime terror.
οἱtheNominativearticle
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject
φόβῳfearDativecognate dative (Hebraism: with great fear = פַּחַד גָּדוֹל)φόβος: the cognate-dative construction (different from the accusative in v.10) intensifies the emotion through a different case. The dative of manner emphasizes the quality of the fear.
μεγάλῳgreatDativeattributive adjective (modifying φόβῳ)μέγας: final occurrence of 'great' in the chapter; the lexical thread (great city, great wind/surge, great fear v.10, great storm v.12) climaxes in the 'great fear' of the LORD.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
κύριονLORDAccusativedirect object of ἐφοβήθησαν (objective fear: they feared the LORD)κύριος: the sailors now fear the LORD — God of Israel — with devoted reverence; the verb φοβέομαι + accusative of the person feared is the standard expression for piety.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἔθυσανsacrificedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · θύωmain verb→ constative aoristθύω: 'sacrifice, offer'; renders Hebrew זָבַח (zābaḥ); the offering is presumably a burnt offering or thank offering — at sea, they may have had animals aboard, or this may be an idealized account of proper worship.
θυσίανsacrificeAccusativecognate-object accusative (Hebraism: זָבַח זֶבַח)θυσία: 'sacrifice, offering'; the cognate accusative (θύω + θυσίαν) is a Hebraism intensifying the act.
τῷto theDativearticle
κυρίῳLORDDativedative of indirect object (to whom the sacrifice is offered)κύριος: the sacrifice and vows are offered to the LORD, Israel's God — the narrative's final marker of the sailors' conversion.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εὔξαντοmade / vowedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · εὔχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristεὔχομαι: 'pray, vow'; here specifically 'make vows' (cf. Ps 65:1; 76:11 LXX); the middle voice suggests acting for themselves, binding themselves to future obligations to the LORD.
εὐχάς.vowsAccusativecognate-object accusativeεὐχή: 'vow, prayer'; the cognate accusative εὔχομαι + εὐχάς is another Hebraism (נָדַר נֵדֶר, 'vow a vow'); vows bind the worshipper to future acts of devotion — the sailors commit their future to the LORD.